Yellow-billed Magpie in December
Where yellow-billed magpies are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Yellow-billed Magpie's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Yellow-billed Magpie specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 1 states and provinces where yellow-billed magpies occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where yellow-billed magpies are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, yellow-billed magpies are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Yellow-billed magpies are not nesting in December. The season runs March–May at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, yellow-billed magpies put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in December
- Acorns, grain and carrion
A California Central Valley endemic that visits rural feeders and stockyards in noisy groups.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Yellow-billed Magpie diet guide → · Best feeder for yellow-billed magpies →
Watching yellow-billed magpies this month
Yellow-billed magpies are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region yellow-billed magpies are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Yellow-billed Magpie month by month
Yellow-billed Magpie by state
Frequently asked
Where are yellow-billed magpies in December?
In December, yellow-billed magpies are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do yellow-billed magpies nest in December?
No — yellow-billed magpies typically nest March through May at mid-latitudes.
What do yellow-billed magpies eat in December?
Acorns, grain and carrion.
Sources
- Yellow-billed Magpie — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Magpie life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Magpie — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.